National Wildlife Federation - Wildlife Habitat Certification

National Wildlife Federation - Wildlife Habitat Certification

NWF wildlife habitat sign with apache plume bush in the backgroundThe National Wildlife Federation encourages community members to create wildlife habitat no matter the space. 

"Anyone can create a welcoming haven for local wildlife. Turning your yard, balcony container garden, schoolyard, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat® is fun, easy, and can make a lasting difference for wildlife." - National Wildlife Federation 

The UCCS Office of Sustainability applied and certified the Sustainability Demonstration House front and backyard under the NWF Wildlife Habitat certification in the summer of 2018 with the support of a student intern.

Read how you can support local wildlife below and then come visit and take a tour of our landscape to learn about the plants and animals our habitat currently supports and how we would like to continue creating habitat for native and migrating birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and more!

Here is what your wildlife garden should include:

  1. Food

    Native plants provide food eaten by a variety of wildlife. Feeders can supplement natural food sources.
  2. Water

    All animals need water to survive, and some need it for bathing or breeding as well. 
  3. Cover

    Wildlife need places to take shelter from bad weather and places to hide from predators or hunt for prey. 
  4. Places to Raise Young

    Wildlife need resources to reproduce, and to protect and nourish their young.
  5. Sustainable Practices

    Maintain your yard or garden in natural ways to ensure soil, air, and water stay healthy and clean. 

Habitat Creation at SDH
guzzler in the ground with brown mulch around it
Wildlife Water Guzzler

A wildlife guzzler "is a term used to describe self-filling, constructed watering facilities that collect, store, and make water available for wildlife." The wildlife guzzler at the Sustainability Demonstration House is on the eastern side between SDH and the Farmhouse. This is a well-used path for local wildlife, and provides a water source for animals that may not be able to reach a traditional bird bath and in an area where water sources are scarce.

Check out the wildlife camera photos here! They include mule deer, desert cottontail rabbits, bobcats, coyotes, and many species of birds - scrub jay, robin, towhee, magpie, flicker, and more!